Chris Harrop1, Lyn Ellett2, Rachel Brand3, Fiona Lobban4. 1. Early Intervention Service, West London Mental Health Trust, Middlesex, UK. 2. Department of Clinical Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Surrey, UK. 3. Early Intervention Service, South West London and St Georges Mental Health Trust, London, UK. 4. Spectrum Centre, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, UK.
Abstract
AIMS: To highlight the importance of friendships to young people with psychosis, and the need for clinical interventions to help maintain peer relationships during illness. To structure a research agenda for developing evidence-based interventions with friends. METHOD: An argument is developed through a narrative review of (i) the proven efficacy of family interventions, and (by comparison) a relative absence of friend-based interventions; (ii) the particular primacy of friendships and dating for young people, and typical effects of exclusion; and (iii) reduced friendship networks and dating experiences in psychosis, in pre-, during and post-psychosis phases, also links between exclusion and psychosis. RESULTS: We put forward a model of how poor friendships can potentially be a causal and/or maintenance factor for psychotic symptoms. Given this model, our thesis is that interventions aiming to maintain social networks can be hugely beneficial clinically for young people with psychosis. We give a case study to show how such an intervention can work. CONCLUSIONS: We call for 'friends interventions' for young people with psychosis to be developed, where professionals directly work with a young person's authentic social group to support key friendships and maintain social continuity. An agenda for future research is presented that will develop and test theoretically driven interventions.
AIMS: To highlight the importance of friendships to young people with psychosis, and the need for clinical interventions to help maintain peer relationships during illness. To structure a research agenda for developing evidence-based interventions with friends. METHOD: An argument is developed through a narrative review of (i) the proven efficacy of family interventions, and (by comparison) a relative absence of friend-based interventions; (ii) the particular primacy of friendships and dating for young people, and typical effects of exclusion; and (iii) reduced friendship networks and dating experiences in psychosis, in pre-, during and post-psychosis phases, also links between exclusion and psychosis. RESULTS: We put forward a model of how poor friendships can potentially be a causal and/or maintenance factor for psychotic symptoms. Given this model, our thesis is that interventions aiming to maintain social networks can be hugely beneficial clinically for young people with psychosis. We give a case study to show how such an intervention can work. CONCLUSIONS: We call for 'friends interventions' for young people with psychosis to be developed, where professionals directly work with a young person's authentic social group to support key friendships and maintain social continuity. An agenda for future research is presented that will develop and test theoretically driven interventions.
Authors: Saliha El Bouhaddani; Lieke van Domburgh; Barbara Schaefer; Theo A H Doreleijers; Wim Veling Journal: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2017-10-13 Impact factor: 4.785
Authors: Joseph S DeLuca; Derek M Novacek; Laura H Adery; Shaynna N Herrera; Yulia Landa; Cheryl M Corcoran; Elaine F Walker Journal: Evid Based Pract Child Adolesc Ment Health Date: 2022-03-23